“I assure the court I will not do something like this in the future. I am sorry if I crossed a red line.”
By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court on Thursday deferred contempt proceedings against Imran Khan after the former prime minister tendered an apology before the court for his threatening remarks against a female judge.
“He (Khan) stated that he realized during the proceedings that he may have crossed a red line,” the court said in a short order. “We are, prima facie, satisfied.”
The full bench of IHC presided over by Chief Justice Athar Minallah and comprising Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb, Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangir, and Justice Babar Sattar took up the hearing.
The court ordered Khan to submit an affidavit for the court’s consideration before the next hearing date on October 3. The court deferred the decision on whether to indict Khan.
The apology is likely to allow Khan to stay out of jail and avoid contempt charges.
“My 25 years political career is for the rule of law. I had no intention to threat female judge. If the court wants, I will go to the lady judge and apologise to her. I will never say anything that will hurt the feelings of the court or judiciary,” Khan told the IHC. “I assure the court I will not do something like this in future,” he said. “I am sorry if I crossed a red line.”
CJ Minallah said the court values Khan’s statement given before the court. “You understood the gravity of your statement, we appreciate that.”
The IHC took up the contempt proceedings against Khan following his speech at a public rally in Islamabad last month. During a Pakistan Tehreek –e –Insaf rally on August 20, Khan had taken exception to additional district and sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry, who had approved his aide Shahbaz Gill’s two-day physical remand at the request of the Islamabad police. Khan and his party alleged police tortured Gill during investigation.
The PTI chief said she should “prepare herself as the action would be taken against her.” Gill was arrested on charges of treason. Hours after the speech, Khan was booked under the Anti-Terrorism Act for threatening police, judiciary, and other state institutions. Later the IHC ordered police to drop terrorism charges against Khan.
Khan was removed from office earlier this year by a vote of no-confidence in parliament by the opposition Pakistan Democratic Alliance. Since then, he has held mass rallies across Pakistan pushing for new elections.
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